Bihar TET exams set new low: Only 17% clear test
What's the story
Throwing more light on Bihar's abysmal record in education, only 17% candidates managed to clear the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) examination. The cutoff for general category was 60%, 55% for backward classes and 50% for SC/ST. It had similar shocking results during board exams this time: in Class X, less than half, 49%, passed. Meanwhile, 64% students cleared the Class XII exam.
Definition
What is the TET?
The TET is a mandatory exam for those who wish to join government schools as teachers for Classes I-VIII. For Classes I-V, one has to appear for Paper 1, and for Classes VI-VIII, Paper 2. Though Centre conducts it too, most states hold their TETs.
2017
Bihar has had an abysmal record this year
This time, 43,000 candidates appeared for Paper 1 and 7,038 passed. For Paper 2, 1,68,700 candidates appeared, 30,113 passed. The Bihar Board, which holds TET as well as school board exams, has been hit by scandals: the 2016 and 2017 Class XII 'toppers' turned out to be frauds. Recently, the Board said from 2019, Aadhaar would be mandatory for all exams conducted by it.